The recent wave of terrorist incidents targeting Pakistan’s security forces has once again brought the national spotlight onto the menace of terrorism and violent extremism – particularly the resurgence of Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used to describe militant groups whose distorted ideology seeks to destabilize the state and society. The brutal attacks in Orakzai and Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the martyrdom of more than a dozen soldiers including three officers, have drawn a decisive line in the sand. Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has now issued a clear and unified warning: surrender the Khawarij or face elimination.
This renewed national resolve is not merely rhetoric. It reflects a strategic shift toward a whole-of-the-nation approach – where the fight against terrorism is no longer seen as the sole responsibility of the armed forces but as a collective battle for the survival of the state. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s strong statement, that the blood of martyrs has drawn a clear line between the defenders of the state and its enemies, encapsulates this sentiment. Equally firm was the briefing by the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who made it clear that every facilitator, financier, and sympathizer of Khawarij terrorists would be dealt with the full force of the state.
The challenge, however, goes far beyond eliminating armed militants in border areas. Terrorism in Pakistan is sustained by a complex web of facilitation networks, illicit financing, propaganda machinery, and regional proxy games. Over the years, these networks have evolved – using smuggling, narcotics trafficking, extortion, and foreign funding to sustain their operations. The DG ISPR’s pointed reference to these financial networks highlights a critical truth: terrorism cannot survive without money. Therefore, any successful counterterrorism strategy must also aggressively dismantle the economic underpinnings that sustain violent extremism.
Former Home Secretary and IG Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, rightly observed that the time for half measures is over. Pakistan’s experience since the early 2000s has shown that temporary operations and piecemeal actions provide only short-term relief. Sustainable peace requires sustained pressure, political unity, and a comprehensive plan that not only neutralizes militants but closes the spaces that allow them to regenerate. This includes stricter controls on smuggling routes, financial monitoring of suspicious flows, border management, and effective law enforcement coordination.
No less important is the regional dimension of this threat. Many of these militant groups are based across the border in Afghanistan, enjoying sanctuaries and operational freedom despite repeated assurances under the Doha Agreement. Pakistan has shown strategic restraint for years, preferring dialogue and coordination over confrontation. But the persistent cross-border attacks have tested the nation’s patience. Calls for the interim Taliban government to take responsibility and ensure that Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan are not diplomatic niceties – they are grounded in international obligations. Pakistan cannot and should not allow its territorial integrity to be violated.
The regional picture becomes even more concerning when foreign intelligence involvement is factored in. There is mounting evidence of Indian-backed elements supporting anti-Pakistan proxies, particularly in border regions. This external manipulation aims to destabilize Pakistan at a time when it is undergoing economic reforms and asserting its regional role. A firm and coordinated internal security response is therefore not only a counterterrorism requirement but also a strategic necessity for safeguarding national sovereignty.
The battle against Khawarij also demands confronting the ideological and social enablers of extremism. Academic experts such as Dr. Ejaz Khan and Dr. Zahid Anwar from the University of Peshawar have repeatedly pointed out that the slow implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) – particularly in areas like madrassa regulation, judicial reforms, and counter-propaganda – has allowed extremist narratives to survive. Of more than 4,300 seminaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nearly half remain unregistered. This lack of oversight not only creates administrative loopholes but also allows extremist ideologies to fester unchecked.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s judicial and legal system must be strengthened to deal with terrorism cases swiftly and decisively. Delays in prosecution and weak witness protection often undermine counterterrorism efforts. Equally, countering extremist propaganda – particularly on social media – is crucial. Modern terrorist movements thrive on narrative warfare, seeking to delegitimize the state and romanticize violence. A robust strategic communication strategy that defends the national narrative and exposes the Khawarij for what they are – enemies of Islam, Pakistan, and humanity – is indispensable.
The people of Pakistan, too, have a critical role to play. This is not just a military or law enforcement battle. Terrorism thrives where there is silence, indifference, or division. National unity, political consensus, and citizen cooperation are essential to ensuring that facilitators and sympathizers find no refuge. The recent statements from both civil and military leadership reflect an understanding of this – that this is a national war for survival, not a localized conflict.
Finally, Pakistan must learn from its past successes. The victories in Swat and the tribal areas were achieved not only through military action but through a combination of force, intelligence, local cooperation, and development. But unlike in the past, these gains must now be consolidated through reforms, border control, and an unambiguous political consensus that refuses to let extremism regain space.
Pakistan has sacrificed over 90,000 lives in its war against terrorism. The blood of martyrs is not to be forgotten or dishonored by half-hearted policies. Fitna al-Khawarij represents not just an extremist fringe – it is a direct threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty, stability, and future. The state has made its stance clear: surrender or face elimination. Now, society must stand behind that resolve.
This is not a war of choice; it is a war for survival. A united front – combining military strength, political will, economic enforcement, and ideological clarity – is the only way forward. If Pakistan can sustain this unity of purpose, the Khawarij and their facilitators will meet the same fate as those before them: defeat.
